{"id":20591,"date":"2011-03-28T22:39:47","date_gmt":"2011-03-29T04:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/?p=20591"},"modified":"2011-03-28T22:39:47","modified_gmt":"2011-03-29T04:39:47","slug":"phoning-in-italy-parte-seconda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2011\/03\/28\/phoning-in-italy-parte-seconda.html","title":{"rendered":"Phoning in Italy, Parte Seconda"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Connectivity has never been so fashionable!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So some developments since my original Phoning in Italy<\/a> post …<\/p>\n

Data Connectivity<\/h3>\n

I’ve gone ahead and signed up to rent a mobile wireless “MiFi” hotspot configured for Italy with unlimited data, via XcomGlobal<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s costing me about $280 for the full trip, but the idea is to have instant-on WiFi access to broadband wherever we are (via smartphone), not just in the places we’re staying or wherever I can find a (free) cafe. I think the convenience will be worth it, to have maps and Wikipedia access everywhere.<\/p>\n

(This is driven by Margie and I having smartphones via Verizon that won’t talk to European networks. Those of with GSM-based phones, like iPhones, can access stuff over there natively, though using a US phone plan overseas is pricy — sites like iPhoneTrip<\/a> also have info on purchasing SIMs that will give you local phone\/data rates.)<\/p>\n

The unit covers up to 5 connected devices at a time, so anyone in our group standing nearby will be able to access the unit.<\/p>\n

Reviews looked good (1<\/a> 2<\/a> 3<\/a> 4<\/a>), and the alternative services I was able to find were either all booked up (Cellular Abroad<\/a>) or had serious data limitations (DRoam<\/a>).<\/p>\n

So, if all goes according to plan, we should have GPS navigation and Googly lookups and Wikipedia and Google Goggles wherever we go. Oh, and Tweeting, too, huzzah.<\/p>\n

Voice Connectivity<\/h3>\n

The above solution doesn’t (for our Verizon CDMA phones) solve voice connectivity (see above for info for those who have GSM-based phones). In theory, with this connectivity we could use Skype — but Verizon’s Skype app doesn’t allow use of Skype over WiFi (mutter mutter) and Google Voice (the other often-mentioned alternative) only seems to be available in the US.<\/p>\n

I got, through my company (using Roam4Less<\/a>), a temporary international travel dumb-phone for my Australia and Chile trips.\u00a0 They may let me keep it through this vacation, esp. if I give the reason of being accessible to the office.\u00a0 My relatives Dave & Elda recommend ICS<\/a> for an international mobile phone rental. There are several other phone rental firms, plus the option of grabbing a disposable phone at the airport when we arrive.<\/p>\n

As things stand, it’s not clear what Margie and I are going to do with this need.\u00a0 But we’ll figure it out.<\/p>\n

I have signed up to rent a mobile wireless hotspot configured for Italy with unlimited data, via XcomGlobal<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.xcomglobal.com\/internationalcoverage\/italy.html<\/p>\n

It’s costing me about $280 for the full trip, but the idea is to have instant-on WiFi access to broadband wherever we are (via smartphone), not just in the places we’re staying or wherever I can find a (free) cafe.\u00a0 I think the convenience will be worth it, to have maps and Wikipedia access everywhere.<\/p>\n

(This is driven by Margie and I having smartphones via Verizon that won’t talk to European networks.\u00a0 Those of you with GSM-based phones, like iPhones, can access stuff over there — sites like http:\/\/www.iphonetrip.com\/ also have info on purchasing SIMs that will give you local phone\/data rates.)<\/p>\n

The unit covers up to 5 connected devices at a time, so anyone in the group standing nearby will be able to access the unit.<\/p>\n

Reviews:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.engadget.com\/2010\/10\/01\/xcom-global-international-mifi-data-rental-service-review\/<\/p>\n

XCOM Global \u2013 International Unlimited aXcess PlanReview<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n